Individuals with diastolic blood pressure under 70 mm Hg coupled with an elevated systolic blood pressure may have a greater risk of heart attack and stroke than indicated by the systolic blood pressure values alone.

Novartis has presented new clinical data which showed that the first-in-class direct renin inhibitor Rasilez, known as Tekturna in the US, provides significantly greater blood pressure reductions in patients with high blood pressure aged 65 and over, compared to the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramipril.

CVRx has presented positive two-year data from the European clinical trial evaluating the Rheos hypertension system. Of the 45 patients enrolled in this study, 16 patients from four European centers have completed two years of Rheos hypertension (HT) therapy.

Although hypertension is known to be a risk factor for cardiovascular death, it appears that systolic blood pressure -- the top number of the BP reading -- is generally the most predictive of cardiovascular risk, researchers at the VA Health Care System in Boston report.

Data from two clinical studies presented at the American Society of Hypertension's Twentieth Annual Scientific Meeting (ASH 2005) in San Francisco demonstrated that BENICARÂ® (olmesartan medoxomil) and BENICAR HCTÂ® (olmesartan medoxomil/hydrochlorothiazide) were effective in treating the difficult patient with Stage 2** hypertension, as well as the less complicated Stage 1** patient, helping both achieve nationally recognized blood pressure goals.

"Blood pressure" -- arguably the two most important words in medicine. If high blood pressure (hypertension) isn't kept in check, you can almost count on a parade of bad things in your future. The list is long, but try heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure, just for starters.

A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.